178 BIRDS AND MAN 



alight, had struck it down with his stick and 

 caused its injury. The bone was skilfully re- 

 paired and the bird tenderly cared for, and 

 before long he was well again and strong as 

 ever ; but a change had come over his dis- 

 position. His confidence in his human fellow- 

 creatures was gone ; he now regarded them all — 

 even those of the house — with suspicion, opening 

 wide his eyes and drawing a little back wlien any 

 person approached him. Never more did he alight 

 on any one's shoulder, though his evenings were 

 spent as before in flying about the village. In- 

 sensibly his range widened and he became wilder. 

 Human companionship, no longer pleasant, ceased 

 to be necessary ; and, at length, he found a mate 

 who was willing to overlook his pauper past, 

 and with her he went away to live his wild hfe. 



